15 Easy + Healthy Packed Lunch Ideas For Your Kiddos

Ah. Packing lunches. One of those tasks that somehow always becomes a dreaded morning to-do.

Kels here! It’s 7:00 am on Monday morning….you are just getting out of bed DREAMING of your morning cup of coffee. You’re rudely interrupted by the realization that you have zero time to get your kids out of bed, bring them to the bathroom, brush their teeth, make breakfast, make sure they EAT the breakfast, get them dressed, put on their shoes, put on their coats, and OH YES…..you need to come up with healthy packed lunch ideas, then actually MAKE them, before you drive them around town to get to school.

No way you’re taking a shower. And that morning coffee you dreamt about is so close, yet so far, until all of this is done. Sound familiar?

I know, I know… wake up earlier. Just… not today. So, how to make it easier?

Every mom’s nemesis (or at least a big one of mine) is trying to come up with packed lunch meals for my toddlers to bring to school every day that are nutritious and not the exact same thing over and over.

When I think about it, it seems silly that a simple task of coming up with healthy packed lunch ideas can be a challenge, but as we all know, toddlers can be picky little eaters. The fact that so many kiddos these days have food allergies, thus meaning lots of considerations, limits, and strategy with lunch making, makes it that much more complicated.

But don’t worry. I’ve got you!

Here are 15 healthy packed lunch ideas that your kids will love, and that can be prepped ahead.

1. The Classic // Sunbutter + Jelly sandwich. Sides: Celery sticks, apple sauce, cheese stick, cubed watermelon
2. Homemade “Lunchables” // Triscuits, cheddar cheese cubes, fresh turkey. Sides: Diced fruit, apple sauce.
3. Tortilla Roll Ups // Turkey, spinach, and thin layer of cream cheese rolled into a tortilla wrap. Sides: Green and red bell peppers, diced grapes, and apple sauce.
4. Organic Deli Meat Sandwich // My favorite to make is a turkey and avocado sandwich. Sides: apple sauce, fresh berries and carrots.
5. Quartered Meatballs // Meatballs (store-bought or homemade). Sides: Mandarin orange slices, steamed carrots, applesauce, fruit snacks.
6. Protein Packed // A peeled hard-boiled egg. Sides: Mixed berries, cubed cucumber with hummus, cheese stick.
7. Carbs For Good Energy // Whole grain bagel with organic cream cheese. Sides: Diced kiwi, diced avocado, veggie straws.
8. Breakfast for Lunch // Cheerios (Or other cereal!) + dried strawberries. Sides: Diced pears, fresh blueberries, quartered cherry tomatoes, cut muffins
9. Cinco De Lunch-O // Black bean and cheese quesadilla with salsa to dip it in on the side. Sides: Diced mango, dried cherries, apple slices with Sunflower Butter.
10. Yogurt Parfait Lunchbox // Your favorite yogurt (We love Siggi’s because its low in sugar). Sides: Granola, fresh berries, a hard boiled egg.
11. Hummus Mania // Hummus with assorted veggies to dip. (Favorite veggies include carrots, cucumber slides, and peppers. Sides: Clementine, apple sauce, Annie’s Mac and Cheese “Cupcakes”.
12. Honey Lover // Sunflower butter, banana + honey sandwich. Sides: Plain yogurt with apple butter & plums, cheese stick.
13. Waffle Wonder // Whole grain waffle (frozen and will thaw by lunch!) with cream cheese & jam on it. Make it a sandwich! Sides: Veggies, cantaloupe & seedless grapes.
14. Chicken Dance // Chicken salad with dried cranberries and chopped celery. Sides: Whole grain pita chips, edamame, sliced apples and grapes.
15. Jet-Set To Hawaii // Mini Hawaiian-Bun sandwiches. Sides: Sliced cucumbers, sliced grapes, pretzel sticks

They may not be out of a gourmet magazine, but all of these lunches are nutritious enough to keep your kids going through a busy day.

What I love most about these is that ALL these ideas are tasty enough that your kiddos will actually eat them! They’ll also all stay fresh for when lunchtime rolls around, even if you make and refrigerate the night before.

Added bonus! In case you’re on the hunt, below are also some of my favorite lunch packing gear at the moment for the kiddos.

These Bento Lunchbox Inserts are amazing and fit right inside your kids lunchbox. I love using this because it keeps the lunch fresh and organized, and the lunchbox itself much easier to keep clean. These Fresh + Fit coolers slip right in any lunchbox to keep everything fresh morning to lunchtime! Finally, my kids LOVE these Klean Kanteen Water Bottles!

I hope these ideas help you kick off your kiddos new school year and make those crazy mornings a bit easier. Do you have any go to packed lunch ideas for your kiddos? Please share in the comments below!!

PS – Family Friendly Recipes + How our Family Balances Healthy Eating